38 Sp. Mild Load

[aerod1]

I have some 38 special, 125 gr. LSWC and I am looking for a mild load using Bullseye. How much Bullseye would be good for this load? I am a person who likes to stay all day when I go to the range and mild loads means I can shoot longer and at less expense.

Thanks.

 

[cdrt]

Try 2.7 grains of Bullseye. Always a good place to start and very mild. I've used it with 148 HBWCs and 158 lead SWCs. I also tried it with some 100 grain HBWCs. It was so mild the cases hardly expanded in the chamber.

 

[TexasSkyhawk]

I use 3.1 gr Bullseye for that load, shooting it out of K and L fram S&W revolvers.

It's a very nice, enjoyable, mild load to shoot with good accuracy.

Jeff

 

[jjohnson]

Don't Underload, Please!

Just a couple thoughts here - I don't know how much experience you have with loading, so forgive me if this is too basic.

Please don't go under the recommended loads published in reputable load manuals. You do need enough powder for reliable ignition - underloaded rounds can be as dangerous as a double charge

If your load is too light, be aware that if you encounter a squib round, you won't be getting as much feedback (recoil) from the other range loads, and you certainly don't want to chase a slug stuck in your barrel with another bullet by mistake

Also, really light range loads don't always have enough powder to expand the casing and get a good seal, so you wind up with really dirty looking brass (smoked looking half the way down the case or more) and you wind up generating a lot more crud than if you used a little more powder.

I certainly understand wanting to get a lot of trigger time and not spending a lot, but just a little more powder won't break the bank and may be, in the long run, a better choice than just a little less powder. The 3.1 grain suggestion may be a pretty good place to start - you can always work up or down to get to a sweet spot.

Make very sure that you pay attention when loading low power loads with powder like Bullseye - it's way too easy to double charge by mistake. If you load a lot, the laws of probability may just "bite you in the bum" one day. Been there, done that If you choose to go to a high volume powder like Trail Boss, no problem with a double charge - it will spill out the case. I'm not saying you should switch powders, just want to make sure you understand the cautions.

Happy shooting!

 

[cdrt]

Just to clarify, the Lyman #45 shows the following for a cast lead 121 grain bullet with Bullseye powder:

Starting load 2.0 grains at 560 fps
Max load is 3.8 grains at 923

So 2.7 grains of Bullseye is basically in the middle at about 700 fps.

I forget sometimes that guys may be loading these one at a time, etc. With my Star press it's pretty darn difficult to double charge a case. You would pretty much have to do it on purpose.

 

[catbite45]

With the 125 gr. LSWC, go buy a can of Trailboss. 3.2 gr (three point two) is a real nice puff ball that is not overly smoky.

It is a real favorite with my wife and her friend, in particular her friend who's husband bought her an ultralight .38.

 

[Bush Pilot]

I shoot a 125 gr plated bullet using 3.5 grs of Bullesye. I put over 200 rounds through a 642 Smith today, shoots like a .22.

 

[aerod1]

I loaded 3.1 grains of Bullseye.
I'll give my results after shoot, maybe in a couple of days. Thanks for the info.

 

[K3]

I dunno about Bullseye, but I use 4.0gr of 700-X to get 800fps w/ a 125gr XTP out of a 2" barrel. Nice target load.

 

[redneckdan]

I use a load consisting of a 110gr cast wadcutter over 2.0gr of red dot for new shooters who want to try something bigger than a .22 but really aren't ready to handle something bigger than a .22 Keep in mind that I'm standing right there with them and they shoot one round at a time. I watch for the bullet to fly down range, listen for impact and look for target holes. If there are any supisions I check the barrel.

 

[aerod1]

Thanks for the info.
I loaded my 125 gr 38 specials with Bullseye ranging from 3.0 grains to 3.4 grains, in one grain increments. My groups and accuracy seemed tighter and better at 3.4 grains. However, I did pretty good with the rest as well. The recoil was very good. I was shooting them out of a 357 magnum Taurus M-66 which is a fairly heavy gun and the recoil felt like I was shooting a 22LR.
All loads were mild and a pleasure to shoot. I could shoot them all day and not be tired.
More ideas are welcome.

 

[Bush Pilot]

3.0 to 3.4 in 1 grain increments? (yes, I know what he meant)

 

[BullsEye10x]

Not the bullet weight you have, but my best .38 Special target load to date is 3.5 grains of Titegroup under a 158 grain JSP. I've also had good luck with the same charge using LSWC. Both are soft shooting and very accurate - Most .38's seem to prefer heavier bullets in my experience. YMMV

 

[aerod1]

3.0 to 3.4 in 1 grain increments? (yes, I know what he meant

Oops, I meant 1/10 gr. increments.

 

[aerod1]

Not the bullet weight you have, but my best .38 Special target load to date is 3.5 grains of Titegroup under a 158 grain JSP. I've also had good luck with the same charge using LSWC. Both are soft shooting and very accurate - Most .38's seem to prefer heavier bullets in my experience. YMMV

I have some 158 gr. bullets but I found these bullets at the Tulsa gun show and got a real good deal on them so I figured I would load them up and shoot. I don't have but 200 of them.